Wall or ceiling covering of oblong segments or panels and intermediate profiled member therefor



w. RIJNDERS 3,410,043 WALL OR CEILING COVERING OF OBLONG SEGMENTS OR PANELS Nov. 12, 1968 AND INTERMEDIATE PROFILED MEMBER THEREFOR Filed July 12, 1966 INVENTOR Willem Rijnders M MQa h ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oice 6 Claims. oi. 52-403 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosed covering for walls, ceilings and the like comprises spaced parallel oblong-shaped panels secured to spaced tranversely-extending supports, in which the panels have side edge sections bent away from the face of the panels and secured to the supports. In this structure the panels are spaced so as to define an interspace in which is located a clampable intermediate profiled memher having an outer portion generally in the plane of the panels and side portions respectively engaging the adjacent sides of adjacent panels along the interspace. The intermediate profiled member is generally U-shaped, each side of which includes spaced longitudinally-extending portions contacting the side edge section of the adjacent panel.

This invention relates to an intermediate profiled member for use in, and to a wall or ceiling of oblong segments or panels, the longitudinal side sections of which are bent off downwards in a rounded curve, and which are clamped at fixed distances apart in parallel side-byside relation on fastening elements which fit tothe inner side of the side sections with projecting parts.

In wall and ceiling coverings of the above general type, the segments or panels, which are made of aluminum or plastic sheet for instance, are adjacently clamped onto fastening elements and remain in this clamped position without the need of further fixing media. Numerous designs of these fastening elements have become known, each of which is used according to the construction and the application of the wall covering.

In a particular construction the fastening elements are formed as parallel interspaced sheet profiled supports which fit sheet tabs projecting from the surface of the segments or panels. Behind these tabs the side sections of the segments or panels are clamped.

In another known design the fastening elements are formed by sheet metal studs which run parallel to each other at a certain spacing, whereas at one side and in the same plane as the sheet metal studs they are provided with sheet metal projections behind which the segments or panels with their side sections are clamped.

All these methods of clamping have in common the feature that they clamp the individual segments or panels only at certain clamping spots lying at fixed distances from each other along the side sections of the segment, causing the side sections to be held at points only at the edge or at the flat side. The effect of this is that the side sections of the segments are only deformed at these clamping spots and in their vicinity. As a result of this, the plane surfaces of the segments in the areas adjacent to the clamping spots are locally arched. Especially in cases when the segments have glossy surfaces these wavy de formations present unfavorable color effects as a result of the development of the so-called Newtons rings. In English usage this effect is also known as oiling-effect. Since the wall and ceiling coverings in question are pri- 3,410,043 Patented Nov. 12, 1968 marily applied to walls and ceilings for decorative purposes and eye appeal, for instance, to fully develop spaces architecturally, such a deterioration of the optical overall impression by these Newtons rings is very disturbing and disadvantageous.

The purpose of this invention is to find a solution to the problem caused by this unfavorable phenomenon.

This solution has been found in a wall or ceiling construction including an intermediate profiled member which is characterized by the fact that it is self-centering and clampable between adjacent segments or panels, and that the engaged side sections of the panels always fit springily and spreadingly along one upper and one lower axis or line of pressure, the two of which run parallel to and along the center line of the side of the segment. The intermediate profiled member in accordance with the invention, is clamped with light pressure in the interspaces, respectively clefts, present between adjacent panels upon which, by virtue of its special shape, it will load elastically the edges of the side sections of the two seized panels along two axes of pressure, so that there are no local deformations of the side sections or individual clamping spots. Each panel is loaded elastically and uniformly from opposite sides. As a result of this construction and arrangement local wavy deformations are entirely avoided and the development of Newtons rings is thereby prevented.

Since the intermediate profile member according to the invention, is self-centering, the panels at each adjacent side of the interspace are perfectly uniformly loaded.

In accordance with further features of the invention, the intermediate profiled member is advantageously constructed with a U-shaped profile or section, whereby the two parallel profile arms are clampable between the panels, and whereby each profile arm has always as longitudinally running upper and lower section fitting closely to the edges of the panels, and a central sector situated in between and connecting the arms of the profile which does not contact the panels. This construction has the advantage that the central sector of the U-shaped profile completely seals the interspace between the panels, especially in the same plane as the surfaces of these panels, so that the impression is created of a continuous smooth wall or ceiling surface.

Further, the intermediate profiled member can be constructed in such a manner that it extends the entire length of the panels, so that disturbing butt joints are avoided. For reasons of good design, the intermediate profile member should be made of a material with good elastic or springy properties, for instance of a suitable aluminum alloy or from plastic. The intermediate profile member can also be provided with a perforation, particularly with ventilation holes, when for instance air must be blown or sucked through the wall or ceiling covering.

Examples of embodiments of the invention, from which further ingenious features become evident, are illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a broken sectional view through adjoining panels of a wall or ceiling covering, the panels of which are clamped onto a profiled support and separated by intermediate profiled members; and

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 in which the panels are clamped onto a web plate designed as a fastening element.

In FIG. 1 panels 1 are supported by transversely-extending profiled supports or bearers 2. The support 2 in FIG. 1 is shown in side view and in dotted lines in profile or end view, from which it will be seen to comprise two outwardly-extending flanges 2b at the top, Lugs 2a are cut and pressed out from the flanges 2b and inclined upwardly to retain the panels, which as shown, have side sections 1a bent away from the face of the panel to provide curved edges extending longitudinally of the panels,

the lower ends of which engage behind the lugs 2a. In this way the panels are clamped to the support 2, the arrangement being such that a longitudinally-extending interspace is provided between adjacent panels. The panels 1 are held against the profiled support 2 by the edges of their side sections In, which press against the lugs 2a. An intermediate profiled member 3, in the form described above is clamped elastically between each two adjacent segments. The member 3 is a sort of snap-in locking member or clip of resilient material for holding itself and the panels in place on the support 2.

The intermediate profiled member 3 has something like a U-shape in cross-section and is clamped between adjacent panels in such a manner that its two parallel profiled side sections come to lie against the about semicircularly bent side sections 1a of the panels 1, and that the middle crosspiece of the U-shaped member is approximately level with the smooth surfaces of the panels 1, as shown in FIG. 1. The side sections of the intermediate profiled member 3 are shaped in such a manner that they lie against the side sections it: of each panel only along always one upper pressure line 4a and one lower pressure line 4b, which run parallel with respect to the center line of the panel, while the intermediate profile part 3a lying in between does not contact the profiled parts of the side sections 1a, so that these are allowed to deform under the spring pressure of the intermediate profiled member 3 along the pressure lines 4a and 4b at each side.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the invention, in which the panels 1', having the structure of the panels shown in FIG. 1, are clamped in supporting fastening elements, which are applied parallel and next to one another at fixed distances, and designed in the form of flat connecting pieces 5. Each connecting piece 5 has at its upper side a number of projecting parts 5a which are formed by cutaway underouts 5b, around which the side sections In of the panels are positioned, so that the panels are clamped to each of the connecting pieces. Besides, the projecting parts in are designed in such a manner that they engage the side sections In of the panels only at points.

A self-centering resilient intermediate profiled member 3' is always clamped in the space between each two panels 1', which in accordance with the showing in FIG. 1, is shaped in such a manner that it always comes to lie against one upper and one lower pressure lines 4a and 4b of the panels 1', with its respective side sections, while an intermediate section 3a, lying in between on each side, remains at some distance from the side section 1a, so that the side section under the load exerted by means of the intermediate profile member 3' is allowed to deform elastically.

The invention is not only related to constructions as are indicated in the drawing and described above but also to difierently shaped, hollow profile structures, panels, and fastening or supporting elements for these panels.

I claim:

1. In a covering for walls and ceilings including paral lel oblong shaped panels having side edge sections bent away from the face of the panels and secured to supports which have projecting parts engaging the inside of said side sections to hold the panels in parallel relation with an interspace between adjacent edge sections of adjacent panels, wherein the improvement comprises a self-centering clampable intermediate profiled member located in said interspace and which fits smoothly and is strongly elastic toward said side sections respectively of said adjacent panels always along two spaced longitudinal contact pressure lines which run along and parallel to the side edge sections of said panels.

2. A covering for walls, ceilings and the like as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intermediate profiled member located in said interspace extends the entire length of the adjacent panels and is provided with perforations for ventilation purposes.

3. A covering for Walls, ceilings and the like as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intermediate profiled member is generally U-shaped in cross section and located with its closed end generally in the plane of the surfaces of the panels, and wherein the projecting ends of the U-shaped member are curved inwardly toward each other and rest on the support for the panels.

4. A covering for walls, ceilings and the like, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intermediate profiled member is an elongated U-shaped member and including an outer profiled section and a profiled side section connected with and extending along each side of the outer profiled section, said profiled side sections being generally parallel and clampable in said interspace between adjacent side edge sections of adjacent panels, each profiled side section of said member including one outer and one inner longitudinal contact line portion, each of which lies against the adjacent side edge section of the panel adjacent thereto.

5. A covering for walls, ceilings and the like, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side edge sections of adjacent panels curve away from the face of the respective panels and inwardly in a generally semi-circular hook-like curve and engage the said supports located at spaced intervals, and wherein said intermediate profiled member is an elongated spring-like structure of sheet material engaging the curved surfaces of adjacent side edge sections of adjacent panels along two spaced longitudinal lines of contact running along the edge curve of each of said adjacent panels.

6. In a covering for walls, ceilings and the like as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supports for the panels are located at spaced intervals, and wherein said intermediate profiled members have longitudinally-extending side portions each respectively engaging the side edge section of the panel adjacent thereto along only two spaced longitudinal lines of contact.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED C. PERHAM, Assistant Examiner. 

